Festive campaign reminds motorists ‘Don’t risk it’

Dawn Renton

Police Scotland has launched its annual enforcement campaign warning drivers of the risks of drink driving.

To coincide with the campaign, new research from the Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland (part of Transport Scotland) show that Scots are beginning to change their behaviour following the lowering of the drink drive limit in Scotland last year.

It revealed that only 5 per cent were opting to drive after consuming alcohol on an evening out and 82 per cent agree that drink driving is unacceptable.

The number of drink driving offences in Scotland has also fallen by 12.5 per cent from December 2014 to August 2015, compared to the same period the previous year.

Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Justice said: “Since the Scottish Government lowered the drink drive limit last December, all the statistics are going in the right direction – fewer people are being caught, but more importantly there’s a shift in attitudes to even having one drink and driving, and indeed driving the next day after drinking. But while these figures show that positive steps are being taken to change attitudes towards drink driving, it is concerning that there is still a minority who would risk the safety of other road users, and themselves, by getting behind the wheel after drinking. That is why I welcome the police action being taken to tackle reckless road users who continue to flout the law.

“Collectively, we are sending out a strong message when it comes to drink driving and our advice is simple – just don’t risk it.”

Superintendent Fraser Candlish from Police Scotland said: “Police stop around 20,000 drivers a month in Scotland – that’s one vehicle on average every two minutes. C

“We will be increasing our enforcement throughout the festive period to discourage anyone thinking about drinking and driving, so the best advice is if you are planning to drink this Christmas, don’t drive.”

For more information visit dontriskit.info or check out the Road Safety Scotland Facebook and Twitter (@roadsafetyscot).